24January 2020
Are you looking to bring your family to Hawaii?
At Maui Immigration Law, LLC, we understand how the process of sponsoring a family member to join you in the U.S. can be difficult. As lawyers, we often encounter immigrants who have a hard time moving forward without the love and support of their families from back home.
The good news is, the U.S. immigration laws allow you to bring your family to the USA. However, in order to do this legally, there are certain rules that you must follow and sometimes, the waiting period can be quite long for non-immediate relatives. Because of that, many immigrants choose to look for shortcuts in order to speed up the process.
Unfortunately, doing so can easily backfire so with that in mind, here 4 things that you should never do if you’re looking to bring your family to Hawaii.
1. If you wish to bring your family to Hawaii, avoid organizing a sham marriage
One of the most tempting ways to bring your family to the United States is to organize a fake marriage. However, getting married for convenience comes with risks.
The USCIS estimates that 1 in 7 marriages is fake and the consequences of getting caught can be devastating. As lawyers, we strongly recommend against it!
2. Remember that being approved for an ESTA does not give you the right to emigrate
Many people visiting the U.S. do not understand that being approved for an ESTA does not give foreigners the right to enter the U.S., but only the opportunity to get on the plane and fly to our country. At customs, immigration agents have the right to accept or reject your request to enter the U.S.
Therefore, if you would like to bring your family to Hawaii, make sure you look for legal representation to file for a family petition. Abusing the ESTA by presenting a return ticket bought for exactly 3 months later or asking to enter the country if you have already spent 3 months in America may put your family member at risk of not being able to return to the U.S. at all.
3. Never buy fake documents in an attempt to bring your family to Hawaii
A great deal of immigrants, in an attempt to remain in the country or bring their families to Hawaii, choose to purchase false documents in attempt to find jobs. Needless to say, but this practice is definitely not recommended!
The authorities are aware of this and, in an attempt to limit the number of people staying here illegally, they’ve recently adopted stricter policies against this type of practice. So, if you’re looking to bring your family here, avoid the temptation to speed up the process by doing something illegal.
4. Stay away from those who promise they’ll help you get a Green Card for your family members
While we do understand the urge to bring your family to Hawaii, we strongly recommend that you stay away from anyone who promises they can obtain Visas for the members of your family.
If you’re looking to reunite with your loved ones, you should seek legal representation and avoid working with consultants that do not have any legal preparation in the matters of immigration. The smallest mistake on your application can have devastating consequences in the long run so, if you’re looking to hire a professional to help you bring your family to the U.S., make sure you look for a qualified immigration lawyer.